The Putin-Xi-Modi Handshake: A Power Trio Signals US Decline

The conspicuous bonhomie between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has captured global attention. Their joint appearance at the SCO summit, marked by close conversation and shared transport, presented a powerful image of a burgeoning alliance. This visual, free of any American presence, is being heralded as a sign of a shifting global order.
According to prominent US political analyst Van Jones, this trio represents far more than a simple diplomatic meeting. He described the moment as a “historically big deal,” warning that the image of these leaders united should be a major cause for concern in the United States. It is a tangible symbol of a world where Washington is no longer the central player.
The context for this display of unity is the ongoing trade war initiated by the US. As tariffs create friction between America and the world, nations like Russia, China, and India are finding common cause. Their meeting is a clear message of defiance and an assertion of their collective strength on the world stage, independent of Western approval.
Jones further argued that this development places the US in a precarious strategic position. He contrasted the current situation with Henry Kissinger’s successful Cold War diplomacy, which positioned the US favorably. “Now we are on the bad side of the triangle. It’s everybody against us,” Jones stated, adding that this “new world order” is simply “not good for America.”